Department of Cardiology

Treatments are given in our four state-of-the-art catheterization laboratories. We have an emergency team on stand-by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in order to ensure the prompt treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome and acute myocardial infarction. The hospital also has a helicopter landing pad to ensure rapid access to the Heart Center in emergencies.

We offer the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures available in relation to coronary artery surgery. Diagnostic procedures include ultrasound examinations for all cardiovascular needs, as well as pressure wire measurements to evaluate the severity of coronary stenoses. With regard to treatment options, the Department has extensive experience and expertise in interventions to treat complex coronary stenoses, including those affecting the main stem and the aortic bifurcation. Rotablation is available in cases of severe calcification.

Over the past few years, the Department has continued to expand its expertise in other fields, and is now able to offer the full range of modern cardiology treatments available.

Catheter-based procedures

We offer catheter-based aortic valve replacement, as well as catheter-based mitral valve replacement for patients with mitral regurgitation. In patients with this condition, a special metal clip ("MitraClip") can be used to hold together the leaflets of the heart valve - which is situated between the left atrium and the left ventricle - thus significantly reducing mitral regurgitation.

Pacemakers

The Department specializes in the implantation of pacemaker systems for patients requiring pacemakers or ICDs (implantable cardioverter defibrillators), with the implantation procedure for ICDs being the same as that for regular pacemakers. In contrast to a regular pacemaker, however, an ICD can detect dangerous cardiac arrhythmias and deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heart beat. The Department also specializes in the treatment of complications that can arise in relation to pacemaker systems and ICDs (device lead extraction).

Electrophysiology procedures for heart failure

Electrophysiology procedures offered include the implantation of systems that can reduce the severity of symptoms in patients with heart failure. This type of system - also known as a cardiac resynchronization device, or an OPTIMIZER - works by delivering electrical impulses to the heart. Other electrophysiology treatment options include cardiac resynchronization therapy, cardiac contractility modulation and vagus nerve stimulation.

Diagnosis and treatment of heart disease

Diagnostic methods include the use of ultrasound devices to examine coronary arteries from the inside, as well as the use of pressure wires. Treatment methods offered include the treatment of severe heart failure, combined surgical procedures to treat the heart and great vessels - such as the carotid artery and the arteries in the leg - as well as procedures to treat peripheral blood vessels.

Modern equipment

The Brandenburg Heart Center specializes in the treatment of severe forms of heart failure, using modern electrophysiology treatments such as resynchronization therapy (CRT), cardiac contractility modulation and vagus nerve stimulation. Some patients may be able to access some of the most up-to-date treatment concepts available, which may be offered as part of clinical studies.



The increase in the numbers of implantable cardiac devices such as pacemakers and IDCs coincides with an increase in the number of device-related complications - such as systemic infections - being recorded across the Berlin-Brandenburg area. Although these complications often cause severe health problems, the Brandenburg Heart Center is able to offer successful treatment methods for even the most severe cases, and is the only specialist center in the Berlin-Brandenburg area to offer device lead extraction. Aside from conventional mechanical extraction systems, the Heart Center also has an encimer laser to assist with the removal process. Due to the close cooperation that exists between the Department of Cardiology and the Department of Cardiac Surgery, prompt surgical intervention is possible at any point should the nature of the complications require it

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The past few years have seen major advances in the development of interventional cardiology procedures to treat severe heart valve disease. Due to their advanced age and multiple comorbidities, some patients with severe stenoses are at an increased risk of complications during surgery. In others, conventional aortic valve replacement surgery may be contraindicated for a number of different reasons. These patients can now be treated with a minimally-invasive, catheter-based aortic valve replacement procedure. This avoids the need for conventional open heart surgery and the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (a heart-lung-machine). At the Brandenburg Heart Center, we have a dedicated team who specialize in this procedure, and who have gained enormous experience over the past few years, treating a large number of patients. The physicians who perform this procedure in our Center also provide training for other physicians from around the world.

With regard to mitral valve reconstruction, we offer a new minimally-invasive procedure that uses catheter-based technology to position and later attach a clip to the mitral valve in such a way as to reduce mitral regurgitation. This procedure can be used to treat patients who are otherwise inoperable due to severe concomitant disease. Having successfully performed a total of 150 MitraClip procedures, the Brandenburg Heart Center has become one of the leading specialist centers in Germany.



With regard to electrophysiology treatments, we have an experienced team of specialists in electrophysiology who are able to offer all the relevant ablation procedures for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, as well as pulmonary vein isolation. We have our own catheterization laboratory, which is equipped with all of the relevant electrophysiology equipment, including a 3D mapping system and a Hansen robotic navigation system. The latter is seen only rarely in German specialist centers, and is the first of its kind in the entire Berlin-Brandenburg area.



In addition to providing medical treatment, we also have a major interest in research with a particular focus on treatment outcomes, and frequently present our treatment results at national and international conferences. For quality assurance purposes, we also regularly collaborate on studies and registries that involve new and frequently experimental treatments.

Outpatient treatments available in the Department of Cardiology

Diagnostic procedures for private patients

We offer the following outpatient procedures (private patients only):

• Right heart catheterization with stress test
• Exercise challenge spirometry
• Ambulatory ECG
• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
• Ambulatory cardiac catheterization
• Echocardiogram (ultrasound examination of the heart)
• Transesophageal echocardiogram, TEE (ultrasound examination of the heart via the esophagus)
• Cardiac MRI (if indicated)
• Cardiac computed tomography (cardiac CT)

To make a private appointment, please ring:
Tel. (0 33 38) 69 46 10

Pacemaker Outpatient Clinic

For the follow-up treatment of patients who have been fitted with a pacemaker, ICD or event recorder.

Additional information on the Pacemaker Outpatient Clinic

Heart Failure Outpatient Clinic

This clinic is for patients with severe heart failure, whose condition requires monitoring in order to be able to plan suitable surgical and non-surgical treatments.

Additional information on the Heart Failure Outpatient Clinic